Russell Brand's switch-up from Hollywood star to ranting conspiracy theorist
Russell Brand shot to fame on Big Brother's Big Mouth before carving out an enviable career in Hollywood.
The actor, 48, known as Rusty Rockets, who has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse - which he strongly denies - starred in a host of blockbusters, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, St Trinian's, Rock of Ages and a remake of Arthur co-starring Dame Helen Mirren. But it was when he married pop princess Katy Perry, Brand became really famous. However, when the pair divorced in 2011 - after the comic reportedly dumped the Firework star by text - the My Booky Wook star started getting noticed for his political persuasions.
Slams government for 'lies' but admits he doesn't vote
In 2013, the actor was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight in which the comic told the seasoned host he did not vote in general elections "out of weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations". Brand also encouraged viewers to abstain from voting too. However, Paxman, who presented the current affairs show for 25 years before he left in 2014, shot back: “If you can’t be a***d to vote, why should we be arsed to listen to your political point of view?”
Controversial Covid views
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Brand grew his following on YouTube as he discussed conspiracy theories surrounding Covid. When one of his videos was removed for breaking rules around misinformation, he launched a daily live show on a new platform, Rumble, called Stay Free with Russell Brand. In the video, he refers to a clip where US news outlet MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow says that “the virus stops with every vaccinated person.” But Brand disagreed, claiming it was widely known that “the vaccine does not prevent you from spreading it.” The comedian and actor told his followers: “We have been persecuted for misinformation. And it’s right we have a responsibility to make sure the information we convey is absolutely 100% accurate as it possibly could be.”
Daily YouTube videos for his 'awakening wonders'
Brand now commands a following of four million on Instagram, 2.2 million on TikTok and 6.59 million on YouTube, for his previously near daily polemics on a range of subjects - with video titles including Do These Emails Prove Biden Is Corrupt And Lying?, What REALLY Started The Hawaii Fires? and THIS is How Gender Norms Are Affecting Men.
Taylor Swift seen looking cosy with Matty Healy's mum Denise Welch months ago
He loves to share impassioned videos on his channel with his followers, but on Saturday, the comic posted content he conceded was his not his usual offering. Before the explosive Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, which was made in conjunction with The Times and Sunday Times, aired in which Brand was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse - which he strongly denies, he said: "Hello there you awakening wonders. Now this isn’t the usual type of video we make on this channel where we critique, attack, and undermine the news in all its corruption, because in this story, I am the news.
"These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I've written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual. I was always transparent about that. Then almost too transparent, and I'm being transparent about it now as well."
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
